Cyclone Vayu to hit Gujarat: Red alert issued in Kutch

A warning has been issued by Indian Meteorological Department on Wednesday to Gujarat about the possibility of thunderstorm and lightning in the state. It has advised fishermen not to venture into the sea along and off the Gujarat coast from June 13 to June 16.

New Delhi:Thunderstorm and lightning accompanied with gusty wind are likely to occur at isolated places in the districts of North Gujarat region on June 13, Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Wednesday.

"It is very likely to move nearly northwards and cross Gujarat coast between Porbandar and Mahuva around Veraval and Diu region as a very severe cyclonic storm with wind speed 140-150 kmph gusting to 165 kmph around the morning of 13 June 2019," the IMD said in a statement.

After taking stock of the current weather condition, the IMD has issued a red alert in the wake of the cyclonic storm and predicted heavy downpour at several areas in Gujarat.

"Heavy to very rains very likely at a few places with extremely heavy falls in districts of Saurashtra namely Junagadh, Amreli, Gir Somnath, Diu. Heavy to very rains very likely at a few places in districts of Saurashtra namely Rajkot, Jamnagar, Porbandar, Dwarka, Bhavnagar," the IMD stated in its bulletin today.

It has advised fishermen not to venture into the sea along and off Gujarat coast from June 13 to June 16.

The IAF C-17 aircraft has landed in Jamnagar with National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel to carry out humanitarian aid and disaster relief missions for the people affected by the cyclonic storm.

Western Railway has decided to fully cancel the operation of 15 mainline trains, while 16 other mainline trains will be short terminated with partial cancellation as a precautionary measure in the cyclone-prone areas. In addition to this, various safety and security precautions are also being taken for passengers travelling to Veraval, Okha, Porbandar, Bhavnagar, Bhuj and Gandhidham.

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